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June
26, 2009: The crew of the International Space Station
(ISS) is about to get a new "eye-pod." The Tranquility
node headed for the space station early in 2010 will feature
a viewing dome unlike any other window ever flown in space.
The dome, called the Cupola, is literally studded with windows
for observing Earth, space, and the marvelous expanse of the
ISS itself.
The
Cupola, named after the raised observation deck on a railroad
caboose, is designed as an observation platform for operations
outside the station--e.g., robotics, spacewalks, and docking
spacecraft. Computer workstations inside the dome will give
astronauts full control over the space station's robotic arm
and dexterous manipulator, while the windows offer unparalleled
views of these devices in action.
Above: An artist's concept of the Cupola.
Credit: NASA
It's
also a place where astronauts can unwind.
"Crews
tell us that Earth gazing is important to them," says
Julie Robinson, the ISS Program Scientist at NASA's Johnson
Space Center. "The astronauts work hard up there and
are away from their families for a long time. Observing the
Earth and the stars helps relax and inspire them."
Until
now, space station astronauts have been confined to looking
out small portholes or at best the 20-inch window in the US
Destiny Laboratory. The Cupola will dramatically expand their
view.
"The
Cupola's 80-cm diameter circular top window is the largest window
ever built for space," says Robinson. "Rather than
peering through a little porthole, the Cupola will allow a stunning
look at the cosmos and unprecedented panoramic views of Earth.
Astronauts will share these views with the world through photographs
taken through the windows and posted
online."
This
could lead to scientific discoveries:
"By
photographing oblique views with different sun angles, the
astronauts can use the Cupola to give scientists a view of
the Earth that is not available from satellites," she
adds. Astronaut photographs of Earth have been used to understand
Earth processes such as melting of icebergs, noctilucent clouds,
dust storms, and the structure of hurricane eyes.
It
seems fitting that the space station is getting the Cupola
around the time of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo program.
Apollo astronauts, like the space station crew, cherished
the experience of gazing back at the planet they left behind.
Apollo 14 moonwalker Ed Mitchell had this to say:
"Suddenly,
from behind the rim of the moon, in long, slow-motion moments
of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white
jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slowly
swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl
in a thick sea of black mystery. It takes more than a moment
to fully realize this is Earth . . . home."
From
the Cupola, it's going to look better than ever.
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Author: Dauna Coulter
| Editor:
Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
| end
notes |
| Earthgazing,
NASA-style
-- (Science@NASA)
Gateway
to Astronaut Photography -- (NASA/JSC)
The
Cupola is now at Kennedy Space Center waiting for final
integration on the Node-3 (Tranquility) axial hatch
and closeout for flight. With the launch date set by
NASA for February 2010 on Space Shuttle Endeavour, Node-3/Cupola
should be integrated in the Shuttle cargo bay by the
end of 2009.
The
Node 3 connecting module, built by prime contractor
Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, is the last element
of a barter agreement by which ESA supplied NASA with
ISS hardware, including the Cupola and two Node modules
(Node 2 and 3).
NASA's
Future: US
Space Exploration Policy |
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